First Peoples Buffalo Jump

First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park preserves one of the largest and best-preserved buffalo jump sites in North America, a mile-long sandstone cliff in Cascade County near Great Falls. For over a thousand years, Native peoples drove bison over this cliff in communal hunts.

The prairie surrounding the jump supports pronghorn, mule deer, and coyotes. Prairie dogs maintain colonies nearby. Raptors including golden eagles and ferruginous hawks hunt the grasslands, and meadowlarks fill the air with song.

Native mixed-grass prairie covers the rolling terrain above and below the cliff. Species include western wheatgrass, blue grama, and needle-and-thread grass. Sagebrush and rabbitbrush grow on drier slopes. The prairie is relatively intact compared to surrounding agricultural land.

The buffalo jump is a sandstone cliff extending over a mile along its length, with drops of up to 50 feet. The Kootenai Formation sandstone was deposited in the Cretaceous period. Below the cliff, bone deposits up to 13 feet deep attest to centuries of use.

North-central Montana near Great Falls experiences cold, windy winters and warm summers. Annual precipitation averages about 15 inches. Chinook winds can produce dramatic winter warming events.

Native peoples used this pishkun (buffalo jump) for at least 1,000 years before European contact. Drive lines extending miles onto the prairie funneled bison toward the cliff edge. The site represents sophisticated communal hunting strategy.

Originally known as Ulm Pishkun, the site was renamed First Peoples Buffalo Jump in 2013 to better reflect its Native American heritage. The park includes an education center interpreting the jump's cultural significance.

The education center provides exhibits on buffalo jump culture and Plains Indian life. Trails lead along the cliff base where bone deposits are visible. The mile-long cliff is impressive in scale. Prairie dog towns are viewable nearby.

The park features an education center, interpretive trails, and picnic areas. It is located about 10 miles south of Great Falls via Interstate 15 and Ulm-Vaughn Road.

Archaeological preservation protects the deep bone deposits and associated artifacts. The park interprets indigenous hunting practices and their deep connection to bison ecology.